Think you have the Flu? STAY HOME! Facing a severe shortage of influenza vaccine, the state Health Department urged Oklahomans who think they have the flu to stay home from work or school until symptoms subside.

The flu season starts next week and lasts till March. The Flu starts out as a high fever (101 to 103 degrees F), chills and sweats, muscle aches and headaches. A runny nose, cough, sore throat, watery eyes and burning eyes often follow. These symptoms usually last three to five days.

These are recommended priority groups for flu vaccinations:

• People with underlying chronic medical problems.


• Children ages 6 months to 23 months.


• All adults 65 and older.


• Health workers involved in direct patient care.


• Workers in child day-care centers.


• All women who will be pregnant during the flu season.

Can’t get the vaccination?...here are some precautions to avoid getting sick:

• The most effective way to avoid the flu and other viruses is to wash your hands frequently.


• Keep your hands away from your nose, eyes and mouth. If flu germs get on your hands, you can infect yourself by rubbing your eyes or touching your nose or mouth. Also, wash your hands if you have the flu to avoid infecting others.


• Healthy people are less likely to get sick. Keep up your resistance to infection with a good diet, plenty of rest and regular exercise.


• Clean surfaces you touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones.


• Keep babies and young children away from people who have the flu.


• Avoid crowds of people. If you do get the flu, stay home. Going to work or school only puts others at risk of getting sick.

If you think you have the flu, doctors recommend:

• staying at home


• getting plenty of rest


• breathing steamy air


• drinking lots of fluids and/or eating soup


• taking acetaminophen to reduce fever